October 2009

Get Congress Out of the Network Neutrality Debate, Please

[Commentary] Now, more than ever, Congress needs to stay out of legislating network neutrality. The trouble with highly technical issues like network neutrality is that they're complicated, and Congress isn't an ideal place to solve complicated — and constantly evolving — issues (unless we let the telco lobbyists write the legislation). Net neutrality isn't a political issue, it's an economic one. The key is ensuring that telecommunications firms don't discriminate against certain kinds of traffic, especially traffic coming over the Internet that might compete with products the ISPs already offer, as well as that folks trying to offer a web-based service don't have to pay a toll to offer it to consumers. The benefits of such openness accrue to consumers as well as to companies trying to build businesses on the Internet.

Educate the FCC on Economics

[Commentary] Four key economic issues facing the FCC as it considers open Internet rules: 1) The implications of possible market failures that might limit innovation in applications complementary to the network. These might include the transaction costs of contracting, spillover benefits of applications innovation, and perhaps the market power of Internet service providers or applications providers. 2) Evaluating the social welfare effects of price discrimination on both sides of two-sided platforms. How do these effects depend on the extent to which mobile Internet service substitutes for fixed service for different types of customers? Or on the number of fixed and wireless providers available in a region? 3) Ensuring adequate incentives for investment and innovation in the network - or the platforms, if wireless and wireline service are viewed as imperfect substitutes. 4) Providing incentives for efficient network operation, perhaps through congestion pricing or network management.

Transitioning Today's Rural Access & USF Mechanisms to Broadband

On October 29, representatives of NECA met with Federal Communications Commissions staff to discuss the National Broadband Plan. NECA proposed a framework that would allow a consumer-driven, market-oriented transition from today's voice-centric regulatory mechanisms to ones specifically designed to support broadband deployment and adoption in rural America. NECA said the National Broadband plan should: 1) define the "Rural Broadband Network;" 2) establish key policy elements for a High Cost Broadband Universal Service Fund; 3) include a smooth, market-driven transition from existing support mechanisms to a new high-cost broadband fund; 4) allow Rural Broadband Network Providers flexibility to meet customer needs; 5) help small providers make services available in rural areas; and 6) address reforms of the intercarrier compensation system. The FCC formed NECA in 1983 to perform telephone industry tariff filings and revenue distributions following the breakup of AT&T. NECA administers the FCC's access charge plan.

If Verizon Stops Deploying FiOS, Then What?

As Verizon nears the end of its initial $23 billion rollout of FiOS, apparently the company going to focus more on marketing what it has already built rather than expanding its fiber footprint further. This raises some questions: 1) What does this mean to the deployment of full fiber connections around the country? 2) If some policymakers have pointed to Verizon's fiber investments as proof the broadband market's working, how can they say we're headed in the right direction if no one fills the void left by Verizon? 3) If we rely solely on the market for broadband deployment, aren't we going to end up a nation of haves and have nots?

Langevin to seek statutory authority for cyber adviser

Expressing frustration with the Obama administration, House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman Jim Langevin (D-RI) said he will introduce a bill soon to codify the powers of a White House adviser for national cybersecurity efforts. He is worried that momentum is fading to tackle the nation's major cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Chairman Langevin said he worries that even when an adviser is appointed, he or she will not have the necessary powers to force federal agencies into action. He said in an interview that he plans to introduce a bill possibly at the beginning of 2010 to give the adviser budget and personnel authority. Langevin's bill would mark the first effort in the House to legislate on cybersecurity since Obama came into office. Across Capitol Hill, key senators are at odds over how best to improve federal cybersecurity efforts.

Lieberman previews cybersecurity bill

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-CT) previewed the bullet points of a measure he plans to introduce later this year. Here's five principles of the bill: 1) A Senate-confirmed cybersecurity coordinator in the Executive Office of the President, 2) Authority and personnel for the Homeland Security Department to monitor federal civilian networks and defend against malicious traffic, 3) A mandatory risk-based approach, established by DHS, to sure the nation's critical infrastructure, including financial systems, electric power, and mass transit, and voluntary guidance for less critical companies, 4) New acquisition policies to tighten the security of government systems, and 5) Recruitment strategy for hiring, retaining, and training cyber security personnel in the federal government.

Parents: Focus more on 21st-century skills

Although parents, K-12 students, and educators agree that using technology is essential to learning and student success, parents are largely dissatisfied with the technology skills their children are learning in schools, according to a new analysis of survey data released Oct. 29 by the nonprofit Project Tomorrow and Blackboard. According to the survey data, only one-third of parents and 40 percent of students in grades 6-12 believe that schools are doing a good job of preparing students for the 21st century. In contrast, more than half of principals surveyed believe they are doing a good job of preparing students. "The disconnect between educators and parents reveals the need for schools to improve the integration of technology into the learning environment and students' learning experiences," said Julie Evans, CEO of Project Tomorrow. "Parents do not feel that schools are effectively preparing students for the jobs of the 21st century, and [they] view technology implementation as essential to student success."

Colleges axing student e-mail accounts

Some campuses are doing away with school-issued e-mail addresses as students increasingly enter college with a personal e-mail account, according to a nationwide survey by education-technology group EDUCAUSE. The survey also showed that more colleges and universities are offering 24-7 help-desk support for students and staff, and the vast majority employ some kind of bandwidth-shaping practices to manage traffic on their networks.

Feds urged to set simple, expandable HIE standards

Technology executives from across the business world told a federal health IT advisory group yesterday it should establish simple but expandable health information exchange standards or risk overwhelming healthcare practitioners. The Health IT Standards Committee, which is helping establish the ground rules for the administration's health IT incentive plan, has recommended a set of standards for delivering "meaningful use" of health IT by 2011. But some healthcare providers say they are too broadly-based and might be difficult and costly to adopt. Instead, a standard that is destined to be accepted should be easy enough that small provider practices can apply it.

ONC launches blog for feedback on policy agenda

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT launched a blog this week to give the public a way to comment directly on the work being done by the two key advisory panels that are helping shape health IT policies -- ONC's Health IT Standards Committee and Health IT Policy Committee.

Benton

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